Details: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (1920-1995): Claude Debussy -- Preludes Vol. 2. Deutsche Grammophon, 1988. Total time: 39:09.
As good as the first disc of Debussy piano works by Michelangeli that I previously wrote about (#23), this one is perhaps even better.
What a wonderful exhibition of thoughtful virtuosic playing here. It seems a little dismissive to refer to the Debussy pieces here as mere "preludes" (vol. 2) as they are very complex, developed compositions. For example one of my favorites, "Bruyeres" (v.), sounds more like a nocturne or ballade a la Chopin.
The piece de resistance, of course, is the final work, Feux d'artifice (Fireworks), a brilliant piece that could be called a nocturnal etude. Having seen this piece played up close and personal (in the home, as a child) and hearing Michelangeli's recording of it gives an interesting sensation of the visual along with the aural.
As mentioned in #23, very few people have achieved the level of artistic quality with these Debussy compositions as Michelangeli did on these recordings (this one from 1988 and the prior ones from 1971 and 1978).
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